GrowFest! Returns with Chef Competitions, All-Local Celebration
Celebrate all things growing in South Florida at the annual GrowFest at Fruit and Spice Park Oct. 13-14. This year's event will be bigger and better than ever, says event founder Margie Pikarsky of Bee Heaven Farm.
"The theme is 'Cultivate,'" she says. This means gardens, minds, markets, food security, creativity, pollinators, health and terroir. The programming this year reflects that theme, and includes a weekend full of workshops, vendors, giveaways and family activities supporting the theme. Visitors can buy plant starts for their backyard gardens; learn about compost and rain barrels; discover how to make kombucha; sample an array of local foods; have a chance to win a free lychee tree donated by Taste of Redland; and explore Fruit and Spice Park in the Redland.
Highlights this year include two chef competitions, one for pros and the other for amateurs, challenging them to a "Chopped"-style competition where they cook a dish using local ingredients.
Pro Chef's Local Challenge
Sunday 12:45-2pm
These contestants will have one hour to prepare a tasty meal using only local products found in a mystery gift box:
Vincent Catala, Evercook Miami
From the South of France, Vincent Catala has 20 years of experience in France and abroad, training in various countries. After becoming chief pastry chef at Gastronomicom France, he moved to South Florida to work at Gastronomicom Miami. Today, Catala teaches pastry and French cuisine in Miami to professionals and nonprofessionals.
Ines Chattas, Open Kitchen
Chattas studied hospitality management in her native Buenos Aires, then interned with several institutions in France and throughout the U.S. In 2011 Ines opened the doors of Open Kitchen, a cafe, catering company and cooking school in Bay Harbor Islands.
Chef Sol, ChefSolVegan
As a certified vegan chef and lover of great food, Josh Solis has been vegan for nearly a decade and inspires others to embrace a cruelty-free lifestyle through his "I can't believe this is vegan" creations. He brings real passion by sharing his love for his Cuban and Brazilian background.
Chantelle Sookram
Born and raised in Trinidad, Sookram received her culinary degree from Johnson and Wales and since then her travels have taken her across the country, with stints at farms and restaurants including Blue Hill at Stone Barns, MyCeviche and BLT Steak. Now with Urban Oasis Project, Sookram is passionate about sustainable farming and extremely invested in bridging the divide between people and their food.
Chef Drew Thomason, Homestead Hospital
Born in Kansas City, Andrew Thomason started his love of cooking at a young age. He is now executive Chef at Baptist’s Homestead Hospital and serves on the Healthy Homestead Committee and Baptist Culinary Committee, changing people’s perceptions of institutional dining and healthy eating habits.
Amateur Chef Competition
Saturday 12:45-2pm
Led by Thi Squire of Grow2Heal Garden at Homestead Hospital, this cook-off challenges amateur and student teams to come up with a dish using a mystery box of locally grown ingredients.
More GrowFest Highlights
SATURDAY
10-11am – Tropical Pumpkins for South Florida (Geoffrey Meru, PhD, Plant Breeder, UF/IFAS Tropical Research & Education Center)
11-11:45am – Planting Success with Your Young Tree (Jeff Wasielewski, MS Commercial Tropical Fruit Extension Agent, UF/IFAS Extension Miami-Dade County)
Workshop participants take home a lychee tree to plant, courtesy of Taste of Redland
Noon-1pm – Art of Kombucha (Buster Brown, Counter Culture)
12:45-2:00pm – Amateur Local cookoff challenge
2:00-3:30 pm – Rain Barrel Workshop (Barbara McAdam, Urban Horticulture Program Specialist, Florida Friendly Landscaping, UF/IFAS Florida Yards & Neighborhoods)
Workshop participants will receive an edible plant to take home to their gardens. Rain barrels available for purchase with advance workshop registration – sign up here. Bring your old showerheads and incandescent light bulbs to exchange at the workshop
3:45-4:15 pm – Compost Tubes (Melissa, Let it Rot)
SUNDAY
10:30 -11:30am – Bugs in Your Edible Garden (Adrian Hunsberger, Extension Agent, Urban Horticulture, UF/IFAS Extension Miami-Dade County)
Noon-12:30 am – Compost Tubes (Melissa, Let it Rot)
12:45-2pm – Chefs’ Local Cookoff Challenge
2:15-3:15pm – Weaving Trinkets and Toys with Palm Fronds (George Fitzpatrick, retired UF Professor and master baketweaver)
2:45-3:30 pm – Basic tool care (Jeff Wasielewski, Commercial Tropical Fruit Extension Agent, UF/IFAS Extension Miami-Dade County)
ALL DAY SATURDAY AND SUNDAY
Master Gardeners will be on hand at the Plant Clinic to help with growing questions
UF/IFAS Extension Family Nutrition Program SNAP-Ed staff will provide tips on eating healthier and showing how to prepare quick, delicious dishes on a budget
Dade County Farm Bureau, YMCA, and 4-H volunteers will host Kids’ Activities
Music and Food
Look for live music all weekend from singer/songwriter Grant Livingston, Stone Age Music Society and Bob Bonnen. Local food vendors include Miguel Bode Honey, Tropical Fruit & Vegetable Society of Redland serving tropical fruit sundaes; Laurie's Pantry; Counter Culture; and Fullei Fresh, to name a few. There are also raffles and door prizes.
Tickets are $10 at the gate. Children under 10 are free.
REDLAND FRUIT AND SPICE PARK
24801 SW 187 Ave., Homestead
More details here.
